Suspect in immigration agent killing held in US

WASHINGTON — An alleged Mexican drug cartel member accused of shooting at U.S. immigration agents has arrived in the United States to face murder charges.

A spokesman for the U.S. District Court in Washington says Julian Zapata Espinoza (es-pih-NOH'-sah) was arraigned Wednesday morning and is being held in jail.

The charges included murder and attempted murder for the Feb. 15 attack on a Mexican highway that killed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jaime Zapata and wounded colleague Victor Avila.

Zapata Espinoza is known by the nickname Tweety Bird, apparently because of his short stature. He was captured along with five other suspected members of the Zeta cartel during an army raid a week after the shooting and recently was extradited to the United States.

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